About Communication

Our mission for the Communication Department at University of Dubuque is to develop students’ theory-based insights and communication competencies necessary to think critically and communicate well. The Communication Department at the University of Dubuque has designed its curriculum to help student’s master competencies that allow them to excel as professionals

Majors and minors begin their course of study by taking coursework in interpersonal, intercultural, mass-mediated, and public communication to establish a broad foundation of communication competencies. Majors and minors choose from additional communication electives to tailor their professional preparation.

What sets apart the Communication program at UD?

We get to know YOU individually. We are a friendly and accessible department at a small and welcoming university. You will most likely have several classes with each of your communication professors, so you and they will get to know each other well. You’ll also build a sense of camaraderie with your fellow-majors. Both our faculty and students say that UD’s Communication department feels like family.

We’re dedicated to optimizing YOUR career prospects. That’s why we require all Communication majors to do a for-credit internship with an organization. With the personalized guidance and input of a professor, you will get work experience at a local or national organization and reflect on that experience in light of your studies in communication. This work experience becomes part of your resume and network of contacts. Many UD Communication students found that their internship was a major factor in landing a desirable job.

We offer opportunities for YOU to shine. If you aspire to go into public relations, you can do advanced study in this area. If you are interested in journalism, the UD Belltower is a great venue for gaining skill and experience as a reporter, feature writer, or editor. If politics or leadership is your thing, you’ll have the opportunity of being elected to office in UD’s Student Government. If you excel as a Communication student, you can join UD’s chapter of the international communication honor society, Lambda Pi Eta.

We offer expertise, experience, and cutting-edge scholarship. Our faculty have published books and research articles in their areas of specialization – including the textbook used in the Basic Speech class at UD. Our department recently received a “Top Ten” research publication designation from the Communication Institute for Online Scholarship (CIOS). We have specialists in public relations and organizational communication, persuasion and public address, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, conflict mediation, performance, and digital communication.

We offer a graduate program as well. Undergraduate students are served by faculty who were attracted to this university, in part, because it also has a graduate program. Should you decide to further your studies in Communication after earning your B.A., you can earn your master’s degree in communication with the same professors you’ve gotten to know over your years at UD. The Master of Arts in Communication (MAC) at UD has a strong focus on organizational leadership and is designed so that working professionals can take classes in the evening.

Even if you are only looking at college at this point, the question of what job you want after graduation is the reality check. A University of Dubuque Communication degree prepares you for dynamic careers in a wide variety of fields. A graduate employed at John Deere recently put it this way, “If you want a career that helps you learn how to work the numbers, get a business degree. If you want a career that helps you learn how to work the room, get a communication degree.” We couldn’t agree more!